Tree pruning is an essential part of a tree’s overall health and wellbeing. Having said this, pruning without purpose and precision can actually be highly detrimental to a tree’s health and fruitfulness. This is particularly true when it comes to actual fruit trees. Whilst pruning can have the effect of improving a tree’s aesthetic beauty, this is far from the lone benefit and should not be the lone consideration when brandishing the secateurs or pole saw. Understanding the specific climate factors and needs of each tree species is crucial to ensure that your trees get the maximum benefit from their trim. Winter pruning fruit trees can be ideal, specifically for fruits like apples, where the dormant nature of the tree allows for a better read on what is happening across the whole tree.
If you are hesitant at all to get stuck into some winter pruning fruit trees then consider the following:
Health: All trees will eventually end up with some dead or diseased branches. By pruning these off you help to encourage healthier growth and also aid in stopping the spread of any disease throughout the rest of the tree.
Limits falling branches: Whilst your fruit trees are unlikely to pose much in the way of a health risk from falling branches, getting to the branches before they fall can help to minimise ongoing maintenance.
Beauty and growth maintenance: All trees have a desired shape that accentuates their natural beauty. Pruning really helps to achieve this. Not to mention that shaping your fruit tree will also help to ensure that you can actually reach that delicious fruit that the tree is producing.
Fruit! Fruit! Fruit!: Thanks to the increased sunlight exposure and better air circulation, a well pruned tree tends to produce significantly more fruit and often of a higher quality.
So, can I prune my fruit trees in winter?
There is some variety to consider here and this is why it is always best to consult an arborist for their expert read on a specific tree. Having said that, there are some general principles that ring true. Late winter or early spring will typically be best for winter pruning fruit trees. As many trees lay dormant over winter, pruning at this time tends to place less stress on the tree and allow you to really capitalise on the boom in growth coming into spring. As mentioned earlier, the increased air circulation within the branches and greater sunlight exposure really helps to encourage the growth of new fruiting wood. Be aware, there are some exceptions to this rule, where certain fruit trees can be susceptible to disease and will benefit from pruning during the warmer months.
Why it’s best to call in an arborist
Poor pruning can risk the complete ruin of your fruit tree. Here are some of the factors that an arborist will consider when pruning your fruit trees:
Don’t lop the top: By simply pruning back a significant portion of the crown of a tree you can impact the quality of regrowth, creating ‘water spout’ branches and potentially raising the chances of disease.
Stubs: A stub, which is the remains of a branch after it’s been pruned, tends to create more ongoing maintenance, as disheveled regrowth springs from it. This patchy growth will begin to block air and sunlight.
Over-thinning isn’t winning: If too many branches are removed then a tree will struggle to photosynthesise properly, creating unwanted strain on the tree and limiting its fruitfulness.
Poorly placed cuts: Branches cut too close or too far from the trunk can damage the overall health of the tree.
With all of these nuanced factors to consider, you really are best to draw upon the expertise of an arborist to ensure the health of your fruit trees. A final reason to consider is that it’s no good for your fruit tree to have fruit that you can’t access and maintaining higher branches can be dangerous and time consuming, particularly if you don’t have the right tools for the job. So, before spring rolls around, contact Arbor Co for a fruitful season.
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